Vince Vaughn's film in trouble over gay joke

A gay rights organisation has launched an online petition asking the producers of the Vince Vaughn starrer

The Dilemma

to remove a joke from the final version of the movie.

"Universal will neither confirm or deny that the joke will be in the final film, in spite of the rise in attention to anti-gay violence and teen suicides that have occurred as a result of anti-gay bullying," said Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).

After asking the producer to pull the trailer, GLAAD is now wants the Universal to pull the joke from the final version of the film.

"When 'gay' is used as a pejorative in such a public way for millions to see and laugh with, it legitimizes and propels the many taunts that gay people endure," GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios said in a statement.

"Amidst a rash of bullying related suicides and anti-gay hate crimes, we need to tell Universal and America that our community is tired of being used as a punch line."

GLAAD had earlier objected about the film's trailer calling the use of gay as "offensive" and "slur", the

Ace Showbiz

reported.

The studio agreed to replace the trailer but says it will not be possible to pull them from theatres until next week.

The scene that caused the controversy sees Vaughn's character Ronny using "gay" as a reference to "electric cars" during a meeting with some execs. "Electric cars are gay. I mean, not 'homosexual' gay but 'my parents are chaperoning the dance' gay," he says.

Directed by Ron Howard, the comedy is slated to hit US cinemas on January 14, 2011.